Fermín López, making the most of his opportunities
One of those documentaries that follow a sportspersons' rise to the top would be fitting for Fermín López' story to date. A somewhat different route saw him have to go on loan before eventually finding his feet in the FC Barcelona first team.
When preseason started, many saw Fermín as a player coming back from a good year on loan at Linares in the Primera RFEF division, but still short of making the step into one of the most demanding settings in world football. Xavi saw his potential though, and he has ended up proving himself to be an insatiable player, adaptable to different game situations, and someone who makes the most of his opportunities.
Fifth highest scorer in the squad
He showed that he wanted a place in the squad with his rocket against Real Madrid in the preseason El Clásico, and as the season progressed, he not only reinforced that desire, but earned it through his own hard work, backed up with performances and goals. In fact, his opener on Monday against Valencia was his eighth goal in competitive matches this season - five in LaLiga, two in the Champions League, and one in the Copa del Rey.
Superb numbers for a player who isn't a regular starter and often comes on as sub, placing him fifth among this season's highest scorers. Only Raphinha with nine goals, João Félix with 10, Ferran Torres with 11, and Robert Lewandowski with 23 are ahead of him. Being able to grab your opportunities is a real virtue in football, and Fermín knows how to do precisely that.